Study on Nutrient Loading and Impacts on Lake Memphremagog for Public
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Study of nutrient loading and impacts in Lake Memphremagog Preliminary Report DRAFT Presented by Memphremagog Study Advisory Group (MSAG) For International Joint Commission November 21th, 2019 Study of nutrient loading and impacts in Lake Memphremagog Preliminary Report – DRAFT Front picture: Studio R.C. Study written and coordinated by: Kendall Lambert, Administrative Director, Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) & Ariane Orjikh, General Manager, Memphremagog Conservation inc. (MCI) Study guided by the Memphremagog Study Advisory Group (MSAG) Initial MSAG members: CAD MSAG Members US MSAG Members Sébastien Bourget Ben Copans Environmental Scientist, Ministère de Watershed Coordinator, Vermont Department of l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Environmental Conservation, Watershed changements climatiques (MELCC) Management Division, (VDEC) Alain Gagnon Frank Maloney Agroenvironmental and Water Quality Advisor, Planner, Northeastern Vermont Development Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de Association (NVDA) l'Alimentation (MAPAQ) Julie Grenier (MSAG Co-chair) Mark Mitchell Project Coordinator, Conseil de gouvernance de Environmental Scientist, Vermont Department of l'eau des bassins versants de la rivière Saint- Environmental Conservation, Lakes and Ponds François (COGESAF) Program (VDEC) Daniel Leblanc Perry Thomas (MSAG Co-chair) Estrie and Montérégie Regional Director, Ministère Program Manager, Vermont Department of de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Environmental Conservation, Lakes and Ponds changements climatiques (MELCC) Management and Protection Program (VDEC) Alexandra Roy Beth Torpey Formerly Project Coordinator in sustainable Professor Community College of Vermont, Development, Municipalité régionale de comté Board Member, Memphremagog Watershed (MRC) de Memphrémagog, and then, Constituency Association (MWA) Office Manager and Political Attaché, Orford’s County, Quebec National Assembly Serge Villeneuve Bruce Urie Ecology and Water Principal Analyst, Environment Regional Stewardship Manager Vermont Land and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Trust (VLT) Due to changes in staffing and availability during the project period, Alain Gagnon, Daniel Leblanc, and Perry Thomas were unable to participate until the end of the project. In summer 2019, Mikael Guillou from the Directorate of Agri-environmental practices, MAPAQ, Nathalie Provost, General Manager of Analysis and Expertise, MELCC, and Peter Laflamme, Director of the Watershed Management Division of VDEC, joined the MSAG. Ben Copans, VDEC, took the role of Co-Chair at that time. For this study, the MSAG members served in their personal and professional capacity, not as representatives of their agencies or employers. Members were expected to serve in an impartial manner, performing their duties for the common good of both countries. ii Executive Summary In October 2017, the International Joint Commission (IJC) received a reference from the Governments of Canada and United States asking to identify the range of nutrient loading issues that are of concern in the Lake Memphremagog Basin and make recommendations on how current efforts can be strengthened. The public is concerned about phosphorus levels and proliferation of algal blooms in Lake Memphremagog that can adversely affect human health, ecosystems, and recreational and tourism activities on both side of the border. This binational study provides a portrait of the current state of the Memphremagog watershed (Chapter 2), a review of current management efforts (Chapter 3), a science and policy analysis (Chapter 4), suggestions for initiatives coming from networking with key stakeholders (Chapter 5) and recommendations on ways to consolidate and improve binational current efforts geared to reduce concentrations of nutrients, and the proliferation of aquatic plants and cyanobacteria that they cause in Lake Memphremagog (Chapter 6). To produce the report, a Memphremagog Study Advisory Group formed by 12 people has been established to provide guidance, a literature review has been produced, a networking survey has been sent to key experts and a Science and Policy workshop has been done. Lake Memphremagog covers an area of 97 km2, of which three quarters is in Quebec and one quarter in Vermont. Lake Memphremagog is a source of drinking water for approximate 175,000 Canadians and is used for a variety of human activities including swimming, boating, and fishing that attract a large number of tourists and locals. These uses are limited by elevated nutrient levels in the lake and resulting cyanobacteria blooms, 156 of which have been reported between 2006 and 2018. The lake is considered oligo-mesotrophic according to total phosphorus concentrations. Chlorophyll-a concentrations suggest the lake is mesotrophic in the southern half of the lake and oligo-mesotrophic in the northern half of the lake. Fitch Bay and South Bay are isolated and distinct sections of the lake and are considered eutrophic. Phosphorus levels measured in Vermont have averaged 18 μg/L exceeding the water quality standard of 14 μg/L. Water quality indicators suggest nutrient levels in the lake have been stable for the last 20 years, but it is predicted that climate change will increase nutrient loading and algal blooms in the lakes of the region. As such, there is immediate need to develop binational solutions to control nutrient loading to reduce current cyanobacteria blooms and prepare for a changing climate across the lake Memphremagog watershed which covers an area of 1,779 km2, 71% of which is in Vermont and 29% in Quebec. In Quebec, several stakeholders are working to reduce nutrient loading in Lake Memphremagog. The Government of Quebec is mainly responsible for the water resource management, implementing an integrated management of water resources by watershed, and recognizing the Saint-Francis River Watershed Governance Committee (COGESAF) for the implementation of an action plan in the St-Francis integrated water management zone, which includes the Memphremagog watershed. The Memphremagog Regional County Municipality (MRC Memphremagog) is responsible for the establishment of guidelines for the territory management. Municipalities have an important role to play, regulating land development and activities through permits and regulations, and adopting non-regulatory measures and on-the-ground projects. Several initiatives and on-the-ground projects are also taken by non-profit organizations, as Memphremagog Conservation Inc. (MCI). iii In Vermont, nutrient load reduction efforts are supported through partnerships between State and Federal agencies, local organizations, municipalities, and landowners. This work is guided by a phosphorus budget for the lake, called a Total Maximum Daily Load, that sets a 29% phosphorus load reduction target for the Vermont portions of the watershed. Strategies to achieve this goal are outlined in a tactical basin plan, which will be updated on a five-year cycle and will track progress in meeting the phosphorus reduction target. State regulations and funding to support phosphorus reduction efforts across all source sectors were included in Act 64 (2015) and Act 76 (2019). Local organizations have developed partnerships to guide these efforts including a Memphremagog specific stormwater collaborative and Regional Conservation Partnership Programs targeting agricultural lands. The Science and Policy Analysis presented in Chapter 4, concluded that reducing nutrient loading in Lake Memphremagog will require careful planning and understanding of current state of water quality, areas of concern, and reduction targets. Also, although there are several efforts and projects underway to increase best management practice (BMP) installation to reduce nutrient loading, widespread adoption of BMPs and investment in clean water projects must be strengthened to reduce nutrient loading. The Quebec Vermont Steering Committee is an established leadership group for the Memphremagog Watershed that provides a binational forum for the presentation of materials and in-depth analyses, and for environmental collaboration within the watershed. The recommendations for a binational approach to reduce the nutrient loads causing the proliferation of cyanobacteria in Lake Memphremagog are: 1. Establish watershed nutrient loading reduction goals through a binational watershed model; 2. Adopt and expand practical solutions to reduce nutrient loading by land use type through the installation of BMPs and investment in clean water projects: 2.1. Agriculture – Adopt widespread on-farm BMPs supported by resources for implementation and direct service providers; 2.2. Developed Lands – Adopt BMPs and stormwater regulations for new development projects and increased implementation of retrofit projects for existing development; 2.3. Natural Lands – Identify priority conservation areas that protect essential ecological services provided by natural lands in the watershed and implement programs and provide incentives to conserve and restore these lands; 2.4. To support all practical solutions on all land use types, it is further recommended that the following are incorporated into each recommendation: a) Incorporate climate change impacts into all decision-making in order to ensure nutrient loading targets are met and investments in BMPs are long-term and that finite resources are used effectively. b) Conducte an analysis of existing enforcement of regulation to determine if there are gaps in enforcement areas, and to develop